Environmental Policies in the United States of America - Term Paper Example

Environmental Policies in USA Introduction With the changing world, maximum extent of the individual in the entire globe, offered higher concentration over the issues and problems related to environment. However, in United States, the candidates tried to focus the issues of environment in both local as well as national elections. Along with this, in order to reduce the impacts of various environmental issues, the U.S. citizens try to spend a huge amount of dollars and revenues to uphold the policies and strategies of the environment. However, due to the implementation of environmental policies, varied types of issues are reduced such as depletion of ozone layer, controlling of the toxic materials, cleaning the pollutants of the air, improving the quality of water, saving the endangered species etc. Such type of concentration is shown over the issues of the environment in order to enhance its agricultural productivity, climatic changes, acid rain and deforestation rate. Only then, United States might become successful in utilising all its resources in an efficient and effective way so as to achieve a sustainable and unique ecosystem as compared to other nations in the entire globe (Carnegie Mellon University, 2003). The rationale of this research paper is to present a detail understanding of the environmental policies in United States of America as well as the ways that proved effective for the nation so as to reduce the pollution ratio as compared to others. Discussion History of environmental policy of United States The environmental policies of United States are considered as the actions or activities taken by the federal government in order to regulate the actions that offer significant impact over the environment of United States. The prime objective of the environmental policies is to protect the environment from varied types of pollution for the future generation. The concentration to preserve natural resources came into focus in 1800, when a huge amount of cropland and forests are cleared. However, due to the clearing of the agricultural cropland and forests, numerous endangered species became ruined along with huge loss in agricultural crops as well. Therefore, in order to improve such loss of agricultural crops, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decided to develop varied types of enforcements or acts in 1900 so as to reduce the problems of soil erosion, poverty, polluted air, huge emission of green house gases, presentation of toxic materials in air etc (Environmental Protection Agency, 2013). The environmental policies of United States In order to save the environment from varied types of pollutions, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced numerous acts or policies. These policies are presented below: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA): this act came into focus in the year 1969. This act mainly tried to describe the policies and goals of the environment in national scale so as to reduce the issues effectively. This act also helped to develop a council, so as to present varied types of advices to the president, regarding the issues (Carnegie Mellon University, 2003). Other than this, an environmental impact statement (EIS) is also developed by the federal agencies so as to analyse the ways that may prove effective at the time of implementation. Due to these underlining facts, the act of NEPA is highly preferred by the citizens of United States as compared to others. Clean Air Act of 1970 and 1990: this act is developed so as to improve the quality of air for the improvement of the health of the U.S. citizens. Along with this, this act also helps to identify and evaluate the conventional pollutants, useful for regulating the amount of pollution amount from industry to automobiles. It reduces the emission of carbon monoxide, particulates and many others thereby reducing the depletion of ozone layer to a considerable amount. Other than this, varied types of emission standards are implemented for the vehicles in order to reduce the amount of green house gas emissions. Apart from this, the emission of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are also reduced in order to decrease the impacts of acid rain. In addition to this, the clean air act also tried to maintain the national parks entirely clean and green so as to save guard numerous species from getting abolished. Clean Water act: Clean Water act came into existence in the year 1977 so as to regulate the amount of pollutants released in the water bodies. It is done in order to save the lives of numerous endangered species of animals thereby reducing the amount of dumped wastes. Along with this, CWA also offered specific guidelines and policies for the industries, dumping huge amount of wastes in the water bodies. As a result of which, the water is becoming contaminated and may not be used for drinking or agricultural purposes (Carnegie Mellon University, 2003). Safe drinking water Act: the act of safe drinking water came into focus in the year 1974. The prime aim of this act is to present safe drinking water to the human beings that are entirely free from lead contaminations, free from bacteria and viruses etc. This is done in order to improve the health and well-being of the individual of the nation of the United States as compared to many other nations in the entire globe. Endangered species act: this act came into action in the year 1973. The prime objective of this act is to protect the endangered species from getting extinct. However, ESA also helped to save various endangered species such as bald eagle, grey whale, grizzle, whooping crane and many others from getting abolished from the globe (Environmental Protection Agency, 2013). Resource conservation and recovery act: this act of resource conservation and recovery act (RCRA) is introduced in the year 1976 so as to regulate the disposal of waste materials. Apart from this, RCRA is to reduce the amount of wastes through recycling process that may reduce the amount of contaminated wastes in natural resources. National forest management act: this act is enforced in the year 1976. The prime objective of this act is to plant varied types of new plants and trees in various regions so as to reduce the depletion of ozone layer. Along with this, planting new trees also helps to reduce the intensity of acid rains that may damage huge agricultural lands and crops. Toxic substances control act: the act of toxic substances control (TSCA) came into existence in the year 1976. It tries to reduce the contamination of toxic substances of the industries into the water bodies of United States so as to improve the human health as well as the environments (Environmental Protection Agency, 2014). Federal environmental pesticide control act: this act is implemented in the year 1972 so as to control the use of pesticides in the agricultural fields for the good yield of the crops. However, due to the presentation of such pesticides within the crops, the rate of pollution is increasing at a rapid pace that increased the rate of harmful disorders within the citizens of United States as compared to others. Other than this, due to the flow of varied types of pesticides and fungicides, the rate of contamination is increasing in water bodies and increasing the rate of deaths in United States (Carnegie Mellon University, 2003). Thus, all the above mentioned acts are enforced in order to reduce the amount of contamination that may improve the health of the human beings. Along with this, implementation of all these acts also helped to save-guard the lives of numerous endangered species and to reduce the process of dumping numerous waste materials of the industries in order to offer pure drinking water to the human beings of United States. Environmental Issues observed by Unite States The nation of United States observed varied types of environmental issues that forced its citizens to enact varied types of environmental policies as mentioned above: Ozone depletion: ozone depletion is one of the major issues of environmental degradation. Depletion of Ozone layer takes place mainly due to emission of huge amount of green house gases (GHG). As a result of depletion of the ozone layers, huge amount of ultra violet rays are entering the surface of the earth and resulting in changes of seasons, climates etc. Moreover, due to the entrance of varied types of harmful gases, the agricultural lands and crops are also getting damaged day by day thereby reducing the capacity of yielding good quality of crops (Holt, Rinehart & Winston, n. d.). Acid Rain: acid rain is a sort of deposition of acids. Acid rain arises due to the emission of sulphur and nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere from various sources. However, in order to reduce the emission of sulphur and nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere, the act of clear air act came into existence. The prime goal of this act is to curtail the emission of sulphur and nitrogen dioxide into the air so as to reduce its harmful impacts over the earth. Hazardous wastes: in order to reduce the contamination and pollution created by dumping of waste materials, various acts such as toxic substances control act (TSCA), resource conservation and recovery act (RCRA) etc are introduced. The objective of this act is to prevent the citizens from the harmful impacts of hazardous wastes and also control the damage of natural resources as well as agricultural lands. Other than this, prevention of hazardous wastes also helps to retain the quality of food stuffs so as to maintain the health of the citizens of United States. Thus, it might be stated that, in order to reduce the harmful impacts of green houses gases and also prevent the citizens of United States from the above mentioned troubles, varied types of environmental policies or acts are introduced. Role of United States Federal agencies and their environmental responsibilities In order to reduce the harmful impacts of waste materials and green house gases, the federal agencies of United States played a very vital role. The environmental protection agency (EPA): EPA enforced numerous policies and strategies so as to improve the negative impacts of harmful gases such as clean water act, clean air act, solid waste disposal act, waste reduction act, toxic substances control act and many others. By doing so, the federal agencies tried to prevent the agricultural lands, water bodies and the endangered species from getting extinct. Other than this, by introduction of all these policies, the health and well-being of the human beings of United States is also improved to a significant extent as compared to others. Department of interior: the officials of the interior department tried to mange and prevent the national parks, fish and wildlife, agricultural lands etc (Holt, Rinehart & Winston, n. d.). Department of commerce: the department of commerce of United States tried to improve the atmosphere, oceans as well as the climatic conditions of the region. By doing so, it might help to reduce and control the harmful climatic conditions such as acid rain etc. Thus, the federal agencies of United States offered high concentration over the matter, environmental pollution and implemented numerous laws and policies for its improvement. Who influence the decisions regarding environmental policies? The environmental policies are designed only after mutual discussion among the government officials as well as the local citizens of the region of United States. Local Government: numerous decisions regarding to environment are introduced by the local government and planning boards. Apart from this, in numerous discussions, the local citizens are also encouraged so as to analyse their desires and ideas regarding waste disposal, recycling, emission of harmful gases etc. State Governments: the state governments also offer strong influence over the policies regarding environments. The laws and policies enacted by federal agencies are again re-checked by the officials of state government. For example: the vehicle emission standards introduced by the federal agencies of United States is quite low in standard but state government enhanced its standards as it is its prime objective as compared to others (Holt, Rinehart & Winston, n. d.). Lobbying: lobbying is a process to influence the decisions and ideas of the law makers and encourage them to vote accordingly. By doing so, the government officials as well as the federal agencies of the region of United States might be influenced and may implement that policy as compared to others. Therefore, at the time of implementation of varied types of environmental policies, influence of both the government officials as well as the local citizens is extremely essential. Analysis Why environmental protection laws exist in United States? The environmental policies are introduced in United States in order to reduce the impacts of harmful gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, cholofuro carbons etc. Other than this, various environmental policies are introduced in order to reduce the impact of carcinogens so as to make the environment free from all sort of harmful gases and particles. Moreover, after knowing the prime sources that are responsible for depletion of the climate and emission of GHG in United States as presented below, its government officials decided to implement various environmental policies so as to reduce its impacts. In addition, implementation of environmental policies also helped to increase the awareness level of numerous law makers and local citizens that may reduce the level of emission of green house gases (GHG) to a considerable extent from transport vehicles as compared to many other regions in the entire globe (Holt, Rinehart & Winston, n. d.) (Source: Environmental Protection Agency, 2013) Findings Ways by which the environmental policies helped US By implementation of varied types of environmental policies by US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the ozone layer depletion declined by a significant extent as presenting below. (Source: Munro, 2013) Due to which, the amount of loss caused by to the agricultural lands and crops reduced significantly that improved its yielding amount. Apart from this, due to reduction of ozone layer depletion, the numerous natural forests as well as wild life species retained in the water bodies of United States. Other than this, due to the implementation of varied types of environmental policies, the intensity of harmful diseases such as cancers, ulcers, rashes etc reduced to a significant extent thereby improving the lives of the citizens of United States as well. This became possible only due to reduction of carbon monoxide levels in the atmosphere as presented below. (Source: Munro, 2013) Thus, due to these underlining causes, the federal agencies and government bodies of United States offered more attention over the environmental impacts. Therefore, the region of United States is now free from the harmful impacts of green house gases (GHG) that amplified its crop yielding power and improvement of land and water resources. Conclusion Conclusively, it might be stated that implementation of varied types of environmental policies, the government of United States tried to reduce the harmful impacts of green house gases and pollutants. Along with this, by introducing various types of environmental policies, the government of United States tried to prevent the water bodies as well as the natural resources of the region. This might prove effective in amplifying its crop yielding power and reduction of the entry rate of ultra-violet rays within the region of United States. Moreover, due to reduction of the entrance of ultra violet rays and dumping of waste materials in water bodies, numerous endangered species of animals remained within the region of United States. So, the government officials of United States offered high preference in implementation of varied types of environmental policies. References Carnegie Mellon University, (2003). Main US Environmental Laws. Retrieved From: http://telstar.ote.cmu.edu/environ/m3/s7/us_laws.shtml. Environmental Protection Agency, (2014). Laws & Regulations Contact US Share. Retrieved From: http://www2.epa.gov/laws-regulations. Environmental Protection Agency, (2013). Climate Change and Waste. Retrieved From: http://epa.gov/climatechange/climate-change-waste/. Holt, Rinehart & Winston, (No. Date). Environmental Policies in the United States. Retrieved From: http://www.nexuslearning.net/books/Holt_Env_Science/21-2.pdf. Munro, E. (2013). Environmental benefits from ethanol. Retrieved From: http://www.ontariograinfarmer.ca/MAGAZINE.aspx?aid=695. Read More